Florida Legislative Changes May Hamper Casino Expansion

Florida’s casino landscape could face a significant shake-up as Governor Ron DeSantis pushes for legislative reforms to overhaul the state’s ballot initiative process. DeSantis was adamant that the changes would prevent manipulation of Florida’s constitution by special interests. However, the legislation will likely have wide-ranging implications for gambling industry stakeholders, including President Donald Trump.

The Proposal Faces Substantial Backlash

According to a recent CNN report, DeSantis has called for stringent restrictions on citizen-led constitutional amendments, which allow voters to bypass legislative gridlock and have a more proactive role in shaping state policy. Floridians can propose amendments to the state constitution by gathering enough petition signatures to qualify for a referendum. This process has been used to decide contentious issues, including gambling expansion.

The proposed changes, which will be debated during a special legislative session, would make it significantly harder for such initiatives to succeed. The bill classifies collecting signatures as a third-degree felony, practically outlawing organized petition drives. Critics argue this change would undermine democratic principles and leave critical decisions out of the hands of the people.

It would all but destroy the citizens’ initiative process in the state of Florida.
Ben Pollara, government affairs & campaign consultant

DeSantis’ ambitions will directly impact the casino sector, making it almost impossible for voters to mount successful campaigns for ballot initiatives. Since Florida’s constitution requires voter approval for any gambling expansion, the measure will further cement the Seminole Tribe’s dominant position in the state’s gaming market for the foreseeable future.

Florida Casino Expansion Would Become Nearly Impossible

President Trump, who remains a significant stakeholder within the US gambling industry, has made it no secret he wants to bring Las Vegas-style gaming to Miami. The 2018 constitutional amendment posed a substantial hurdle to this plan, while DeSantis’ proposal will further dampen any ambitions for a Trump casino in Florida. While probably unintentional, such a development could cause a rift between the two.

With the ballot initiative no longer an option, the President would have to rely on state lawmakers to approve casino expansion. However, the Seminole Tribe’s substantial influence means any such attempt will face significant pushback. This bill could be welcome news for the tribe, solidifying its hold on the casino and sports betting industries and discouraging would-be competitors.

This proposal would seal off competition for sports betting and casino gambling in Florida. It’s unprecedented.
Daniel Wallach, gaming attorney and sports betting legal expert

While DeSantis’ proposed reforms will consolidate Florida’s gambling sector, they do not appear to answer rising concerns regarding the proliferation of black market operators. Stakeholders have warned that without additional reforms to combat illegal entities, Florida risks losing potential revenue and jobs to unregulated competitors. However, such improvements will likely have to wait until the current situation is resolved.